US fuel use survey lists the best ? and worst ? cars to own.

Fuel consumption: saints and sinners

If you're about to nudge an 8.0-litre, V16-engined Bugatti Veyron into your garage, do the right thing and sneak a Mitsubishi i-MiEV in beside it.

These two cars have earned the worst – and best – fuel use rating in this year's annual ranking of fuel economy issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

While the Veyron will suck down an average of more than 23.5 litres of fuel for every 100 kilometres it travels, Mitsubishi's battery-powered city car is effectively rated at just over 2.1L/100km in recognition that even though it appears squeaky clean, electricity can't escape a dirt-stained carbon footprint.

Joining it on the fuel economy leader's board are the all-electric Nissan Leaf (rated at 2.4L/100km) and the electric-with-petrol-generator-backup Chevrolet Volt that will soon be sold in Australia wearing a Holden badge, rated at 3.9L/100km.

According to the study, the Veyron is also the most expensive vehicle to keep on the road, costing owners about $US5520 ($5528) in fuel each year at prices that equate to about $1 a litre.

Owning a W12-engined Bentley Contenintal is the second most expensive option, with its 6.0-litre powerplant costing about $US4890 in fuel each year.

The Toyota Prius is the most economical hybrid car to run in the US, pegging an average fuel use of 4.7L/100km and an annual fuel cost of $US1026, while the best conventionally engined cars are the Audi A3 and the Volkswagen Jetta, both powered by a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine, that return an average of about 6.9L/100km and at a cost of about $US1715 a year.

Of the two hydrogen fuel cell vehicles available in the US – the Honda FCX Clarity and Mercedes-Benz's B-Class-based F-Cell – the Honda betters its German rival by 0.5L/100km to peg an official fuel use rate of 3.9L/100km.